Electric signal system.



PATBNTE-D MAY 24, 1904.

0. ERNST.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM;

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

THE Nonms PEYERS cu PHOTO-LITHOWASHINGTON o. c

Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

'oTTo ERNST, or LARoEMoNT, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of I Letters Patent No. 760,976, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed September 22, 1903. Serial No. 174,151. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO ERNST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Larchmont, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electric Signal System, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to electric signaling, and more particularly tothe production of a simple and reliable signal for use in connection with electric railways and adapted to I warn the engineer at the power-house and ,tirely distinct from each other.

is a perspective view of a part of the wiring.

The railway is divided into blocks or sections AB, each section being somewhat independent of the others for the reason that the signal mechanism and power-supply are en- A dynamo 1 or equivalent source of electricity is provided with terminals 2 S in the usual manner. From the terminal 2 a wire 4 is connected with distribution-wires 5 6, leading to the different blocks. Of course any number of such wires may be used. In the drawings, which show the invention in one of its simplest forms, the wire 5 leads to the block A and the wire 6 leads to the block B. A conduit 7 is I provided for the purpose of protecting the wires which emerge from the conduit at the nearest intersection of the block in' which the wires are to be connected with signals. A number of electric bells 8, preferably of the continuous-ring type, are disposed within the block B, and intermediate of these bells are glow-lamps 9. Both the glow-lamps and the electric bells just mentioned are connected by wires8 8 8 with wires 7 and 10. The wires 6 and 7 a are uncovered, while the wire 10 is preferably covered, as shown. The

covered wire 10, is connected with a wire 11, this wire being connected with a bell 12 and a glow-lamp 13, and the wire 7 is also connected with this glow-lamp and bell. The wire 14:18 for the purpose of afiecting the block A and is connected with an insulated Wire 15 and a number of bells 16 and glow-lamps 17 which constitute bridges from the wire 14 to the wire 15. Similarly a bell 18 and a glowl'amp 19 bridge'these two wires 14 and 15.

The dynamo 1, the lamps l3 and 19, and the bells 12 and 18 are all disposed at the power-station. By means of a circuit-band 20, having substantially the form of a hook and provided with an insulating-handle 20, the wires 6 7 a may be connected together, as indicated in 3. This circuit-band may be placed upon the wires by any trainman without the necessity of his leaving the train. This is because the wires 6 7 are located comparatively higher relatively to the track, as indicated in Fig. 2. The wires are mounted by means of posts 21, provided with brackets 22 and supporting insulators 23 24 25, these parts being of the ordinary or any approved construction. Where the wires pass through a tunnel 26, the bracket 22 may be mounted upon the wall of the tunnel, as shown in Fig. 2. The surface rails are shown at 27 and the third rail at 28 29, being thus divided into sections in the usual manner. The third-rail sections are fed by power-mains 30', passing through the conduit 31 in the usual manner.

It will be noted that a block or section of the railway is a block not only for the purpose of signaling, but also for the purpose of supplying power to the rolling-stock. As my invention has no direct relation to the supply of power, however, I do not show nor describe any means for this purpose further than to locate the rails, which may be of the usual pattern.

My invention is used as follows: The dynamo 1 is normally in motion, and the signal lamps and bells are normally inactive, owing to the circuit being incomplete. In case of an accidentsuch, for instance as a wreck-a traimnan takes the circuit-band 20 by its handle 20 and reaches up from the platform or from a car-window and places the circuit-band upon the wires 6 7, as indicated in Fig. 3. The following circuit is 'thereby completed: sourceof electricity 1, terminal 2, wire 4:, wire 6, circuit-band 20, wire 7, thence through allof the bells 8 and glow-lamps 9 in the block B to the insulated wire 10 and also from the wire 7 through the bell 12 and the glow-lamp 13 to the wire 11 at the power-house,- and through this wire to the terminal 3 of the dynamo. This completion of the circuit rings all of the bells 8 in the block B, the bell 12 at the power-house, and also lights all of the lamps 9 in the block B and the lamp 13 at the power-house. The engineer at the powerhouse thereupon knows that there is trouble in the block B and of course takes proper action, such as cutting off the power from the block or section B and apprising officials of the road, &c. The passengers thereupon leave the train and walk out of the block, it

i making no difference whether it be in a tunnel or on a clear piece of track. There is no danger from the third rail, owing to the fact that the engineer has cut off the power from the block. The continuous ringing of all of the bells in the block serves to efiectively warn the passengers, no matter upon what part of the train they may be, and the lighting of the glow-lamps 9 facilitates the chances for escape without injury. The result is that in a case of accident all of the passengers are apprised of the trouble and every facility is offered them to escape. If a fire is started by a short circuit, it will of necessity extinguish itself upon the cutting off of the power.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an electric signal system, the combination of a single feed-wire of one sign, a pair of wires of another Sign, alarm mechanisms connected in multiple with said last-mentioned wires, a source of electricity connected with said single feed-wires and with one of said wires of another sign, and means controllable at will for connecting the other of said last-mentioned wires with said single feed wire, thereby actuating all of said alarms.

2. In an electric signal system, the combination ofa station and a plurality of distinct blocks, a rail-section disposed within each block for supplying power to rolling-stock and mechanism controllable at will, for energizing said signaling mechanism in any desired block independently of other blocks, so that the block affected may be identified from said station.

3. In an'electric signal system ,used in connection with a plurality of separate blocks and a station, the combination of rail-sections each of the length of a block, for supplying power to rolling-stock within said block, a separate group of alarms disposed within each block and distributed substantially throughout the length thereof, separate alarms at the station for each of said blocks, and means controllable at will, for simultaneously energizing the alarms of a predetermined block and the alarm representing said block at the station.

4. In an electric signal system used in connection with a plurality of distinct blocks and a station, the combination of a feed-wire in each block, a pair of wires disposed in each block and connected together, means controllable at will. for connecting together in any given block said single feed-wire and one of said pair of wires, a source of electricity connected with said single feed-wire and with the other of said pair of wires, and alarm mechanism disposed at said station and connected with said single feed-wire and with one of said pair of wires.

5. In an electric signal system, the combination of alarm mechanism disposed within a block, alarm mechanism disposed at a station, wires for energizing said alarms, said wires being uncovered, and a metallic circuitband having substantially the form of a metallic hook, provided with a handle of insulating material and entirely disconnected from the wiring, for the purpose of being placed upon and removed from said wires at will.

6. In an electric signal system, the combination of alarm mechanism disposed at a station, alarm mechanism disposed within a distant block, open'circuit wiring connecting said alarms together, and a portable hook of conducting material for engaging said wiring and thereby completing the circuit through said alarms.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OTTO ERNST. Witnesses: SAMUEL R. BELL,

JOHN M. Ross. 

